Keeping Maine’s Forests Pilot Project Update

Fisheries Habitat RestorationPleasant River Watershed

A Critical Aquatic Resource

• 90% of the intact eastern brook trout habitat in the US is in Maine.

• 30% of the remote ponds in Maine are in the Moosehead-Katahdin region (aka 100-Mile Wilderness).

• Very high concentration of some of the best wild and native trout habitat located in this region.

• Also Penobscot River Watershed – focus on fisheries habitat restoration.

Background

• March 2011 KMF fisheries forum sponsored by Maine Forest Products Council

• Fisheries habitat: success story to build on.• Private landowners interested and engaged.• Track record of cooperative efforts with NGOs,

state and federal agencies with private landowners: Project SHARE in Downeast Maine.

Pilot Project Goal

• Meet the goals of Keeping Maine’s Forests including fiber production and maintaining important wildlife habitat in the greater Moosehead-Katahdin Region by creating a partnership dedicated to maintaining and restoring native fish habitat.

• Initial Partners: AMC, TNC, NRCS, USFWS, IF&W, Huber, also TU, FSM

The Issue• Log drives ended in early

1970’s needed other means of log transport.

• 100’s of miles of roads were built starting in early 1970’s to truck logs out of the woods.

• Currently have an ageing road network with 100’s of culvert problems.

• Lower and mid Penobscot has 770 severe culvert fish barriers identified.

Biological Issue with Problem Culverts:

• Restrict fish movement minimizing timely access to:– Spawning habitat– Cold water refuge – Food resources.

• Create marshy backwaters– Increase water temperature – Reduce stream flow – Promotes conditions for warm water

and invasive fish species. • Prevents natural stream process

from occurring including:– Large wood and substrate movement

Focus Area DeterminationPart I: Fish Habitat

Total ATS rearing units rank + ((BKT stream rank +BKT Pond acreage rank)/2)

OR

• Worked with state and federal biologists to determine a restoration focus area in the Penobscot

• Focus area determination – Used biological fish variables – Biological Opinion– Best of the best (could be

better)

Habitat + Habitat = ATS and BKT Habitat

Top Ten HUC 12’s (Orange)

71 known Severe Barriers in 6 HUC’s

4 HUC’s Need Culverts Surveyed

Focus Area Determination Part II: NRCS Client availability

Barrier Ownership Piscataquis Pleasant East Branch

National Park (AT) 0 1 0

Small Land Owners 1 2 2

Unknown 2 0 5

Worked with NRCS 2 0 4

Non-Profit (AMC) 0 9 0

Large Forest Land Owners 9 10 0

State, Town, County Roads 13 0 11

Total 27 22 22

Katahdin Iron Works

Brownville Junction

How it worked

• NRCS and USFWS biologists and engineers completed design and plans for culvert removals summer 2011. No cost to the landowner.

• USFWS secured necessary permits. No cost to the landowner.

• Landowner obtained services of local contractor to complete the work.

• USFWS paid contractor directly for all costs associated with the work on the ground.

Site #1 Blocked Culvert

Site #2 Low Flow Fish Barrier

Site #3 Restored Natural Process

Success!• The three culvert removal projects combined have

reconnected close to two miles of stream habitat in the Pleasant River watershed.

• Much improved habitat for wild and native brook trout.• Further bolsters region as a world-class trout fishery.• Core project partners: AMC, Huber, USFWS, NRCS, and

TNC.

Moving Forward

• Road stream crossing training in Nov. (requested by private landowners)

• Additional projects slated for 2012• Some culvert removal and restoration projects.• Other projects include culvert or bridge replacement. • Likely work with adjacent landowners that have

expressed interest in the project.• AMC to act as project sponsor to enable NRCS

funding options for other landowners.